Heavenly Housing

Psalm 84:4 (KJV) Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

(Proverbs 3 also read)

On the first reading level this is a wonderful thought.  The idea of dwelling in God’s house gives a great deal of fulfillment.  I want to live in God’s house.

But what, where or when is God’s house?

The first thought I had was the final words of the 23rd Psalm,

Psalm 23:6 (KJV) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

In that case it implies eternity, but the implication of the verse is that it is now.  That makes me think of the Temple as God’s house but it would not be big enough for all of us.

My final thought is that this might be a synonym for the kingdom of God which is proclaimed in the NT.

So?  However I interpret it is a blessing.  The implication is that we exist in the presence of God. 

Library Cards

Proverbs 2:5 (KJV) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

One of the great attributes of our present culture is access to libraries.  They come in differing sizes and content but they offer access to worlds of information that were not always available to the masses.  Unfortunately there are problems.

Many people do not have library cards.  There is no excuse.  They are free.  Some communities require you to live in the city but there are options.  I have five cards and only one of them is strict about residency.  Which brings me to this verse and chapter.

This chapter is full of promises about God meeting the seeker and supplying understanding and knowledge.  That is specific to this verse but broader in the context.  After I read I went back and scanned, looking for mention of limitations.  There was nothing about the law or Israel specifically.  That means I am free to assume that the offer of meeting us depends on whether we are seeking the God of the universe or walking our own path.

So?  God reaches out to everyone.  His library card is available to anyone who seeks Him.  Get yours today if you have not already applied.  

Wake Up Reading

Psalm 82:2 (KJV) How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

My first reading of this chapter had me pausing here and asking if this writer were accusing God of being unjust.  I had to read the entire Psalm before I finally realized, on looking back, that this was God talking to people who were in charge of judging wisely.

Leaders who suck the life blood out of people are not a new phenomenon.  We tend to be locked into our own daily lives and forget that history has a witness of this kind of thing.  Does God approve?  Of course, not.  It is not particularly comforting when I see things falling apart, but I do believe that in the end, God will make these people pay for their arrogance and self-centeredness.

So?  We need to pray for our leaders.  We need to pray for their salvation.  We need to pray for their repentance.  God will take care of the punishment.  That is on Him.  

Shoot for the Moon

Proverbs 31:10 (KJV) Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

This is a good question.  One problem we face is that the KJV gives a poor translation with “virtuous”.  Not that virtue is a bad trait, it is just not what the word means.  The NASB is closer with “excellent”.  Any way you look at it, this is a woman of quality.

Where do you find such a paragon?  If you are already married then you should not be looking.

Probably a better question for us is, “How can I be one of those people?”  It is a question if you want to take the verse literally, as offered, or turn it around to suggest what kind of men we should be.

So?  Go ahead and look for excellence but even more, strive for it in your own life.  

Early Warning

Proverbs 30:4 (KJV) Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

I sometimes wonder why the Jews were so reluctant to accept Jesus as the Son of God.  We have here a clear statement that God has a Son and that His name was known.

They would have known God’s name.  He gave that to Moses.  It had the meaning of being the God who exists, YHWH.  But what about the Son?

Isaiah provides us with two examples which the people who read this would know.  Maybe not the original readers.  Isaiah wrote after the time that Proverbs would have been written, but the Jews of Jesus’ time would have known.  First you have,’

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

This was repeated to Mary.  Then you have more,

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

So?  We often know more than we are aware of.  The key is to expect and examine.  God provides answers.  

Geared Down

Proverbs 29:4 (KJV) The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

As Americans, we don’t pay a lot of attention to kings.  They’re kind of romantic residue from the past to us.  So what is the possible spiritual principle for us here?  I believe that God has something to teach us from almost every scripture.

I think for us the key is that if we want to establish the world we influence then we need to seek genuine justice.  As simple citizens, we don’t have a “land”.  We do have an area of responsibility.  For parents that would be the family.  Single people have influence around them either by people who live next to them or at work.  We are to reach out with “judgment”.  I believe the idea of judgment here is not a high and mighty declaration of our will, but a seeking of the justice that God expects us to demonstrate.

So?  Don’t forget that you have influence.  I know as I get older and talk to other old people they feel like no one’s listening anymore.  That may be true up to a point.  But it’s not totally true because there are people watching us and there are people listening to us even if we’re not talking directly to them.  Establish justice.  Be a force for righteousness.  

It Makes a Difference

Proverbs 28:5 (KJV) Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

At dinner a group from the church were struggling to understand news they had seen about parents murdering their children and children murdering their parents.  For them it was hard to wrap their heads around.  I think a lot of people are in that mind set.

I shared that I did not believe that the pagan world loves its children the same way that Christians do.  I did not have this verse at my fingertips, but when I read it this morning it reinforced my position.  When you have a foundation in the living God your attitudes toward the world around you are different because of that link.  That goes even more for your family and your fellow believers.  We used to sing that song, “We are one in the bond of love.”  We sang it with feeling because it was true.

So?  Don’t expect the world to understand you.  If they ever agree with you it will because one of you doesn’t understand the situation.  Focus on Him and the one who said He was the Way, the Truth and the Life.